He frowned. “Just you?”

I nodded.

“To Turweston Airport, England?”

I nodded again.

We’d been over this, but I felt his confliction. He wanted the diamonds. He wanted to fly me. He just needed a moment to let the magnitude of logging a new flight plan and departing the moment he landed from a previous contract compute.

Lowering my voice, I encouraged, “I know you’ve just arrived with another client. But I need to go this very moment. If that’s not a possibility, then I’ll have to look elsewhere.”

I held out my palm, requesting the return of the glittering stones.

The captain clutched his fist where the diamonds lay. He bit his lip, slowly working out what tiredness was worth compared to an instant fortune. Amazing how such simple stones could corrupt even the most innocent.

“I didn’t say I couldn’t take you.”

I crossed my arms, wincing a little at the aches in my body. “Decide. We need to leave.”

His eyes darted to the private jet sitting serenely by the hangar. After arriving at the airport, courtesy of the worker who should've been a race car driver rather than a diamond digger, I’d found there were no commercial flights for thirty-six hours.

That was too long.

It wouldn’t work.

I fucking refused to go through the nightmare of flying economy while fearing for Nila’s life. Last time, I’d arrived late. Daniel had touched her and Nila had to defend herself by taking a life.

I won’t let that happen again.

But the gods of fate had finally smiled at me as the captain I now propositioned had walked through the terminal with his flight bag and weary eyes ready for a nightcap and bed. He paused, eavesdropping on my conversation with another pilot offering all number of things if he’d charter a plane and get me to England tonight.

He’d interrupted and guided me outside where no other ears would hear.

The moment it was just us, I’d pulled free the pocketed diamonds and given him my terms. There were a few missing—I’d paid the worker a big bonus for driving me so quickly before sending him back to the mine to find the guy who’d driven me last night. I’d promised my previous ride two thousand pounds. Who knew if he still waited by the gates, but he deserved to be compensated for his loyalty.

I would never take people’s willingness to help another ungratefully again.

The pilot rolled a clear stone in his fingers, a decision solidifying on his face. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“Good choice.” I wanted to fucking kiss him. Instead, I prowled toward the aircraft and prepared to face my father one last time.

I checked the clock above the cockpit for the millionth time.

Almost there.

By my calculations, I was only a couple of hours behind Nila and Cut. Their international service had been delayed—I’d seen the departure board at the terminal—and their airliner travelled at a slower speed.

Also, once in England, clearing customs would’ve taken a while depending on Nila’s acting skills.

Even though I was so close, chasing Nila through the skies—it wasn’t quick enough.

Come on. Fly faster.

The air-hostess, who hadn’t looked happy when the pilot asked her to pull a double shift, came forward. The co-pilot had also grumbled, but nothing a few bribes and promises couldn’t fix. Both the flight attendant and the crew had assumed they’d finished for the day. But they’d agreed. Everyone agreed for money. Even if tiredness and common-sense told them otherwise.

We were all running on fumes, lethargy and stress slowly polluting the interior of the plane. Mile after mile we travelled and I drank coffee after coffee, refuelling on pre-packaged sandwiches and fruits stocked in the plane’s galley.

My stomach was no longer empty and with edible vitamins came healing. My body knitted together enough to get me through the day. My vision stabilised and my headache receded. My fever remained, however, staining my hope with an unwanted film.

“Another drink, Mr. Hawk?” The air-hostess with her plaited dark hair was pretty enough but held nothing compared to Nila.

God, Nila.

I’d never been so attracted to someone both physically and emotionally. The shared text messages had made me proud of her, pissed at her, lusting for her. She’d become a friend…then lover. But mostly, she’d become everything I ever needed.

Clenching my hand, I rubbed at the sudden ache in my heart.

I fucking miss you, Needle.

I shook my head. “A phone. Do you have an in-flight phone I can use?”

She nodded. “I’ll get it for you.” Disappearing down the back of the aircraft, she returned with a satellite phone.

The moment I turned it on, I forgot all about her and focused on rallying every plan I’d put into place before Jasmine called to say Nila had been taken to Africa.

How long ago was that?

A decade? Two?

Shit, it felt like an eternity.

The first call was to Tex.

He answered on the first ring, almost as if he sensed the magnitude of the situation and the peril his daughter was in.

“Arch speaking.”

“It’s Jethro.”

His voice turned sharp. “You said you’d call me hours ago, Hawk. What the hell happened?”

“Change of plan.” I swiped a hand over my face. “Look, they took her before I could put everything into place. It’s happening right now. You need to gather whoever you’ve been working with and get to Hawksridge this very fucking second.” My heart charged with gunpowder. “Can you do that?”